New engine restrictions in World Superbike will bring the series closer together as factory teams will no longer be able to take as many motors to each meeting as they can fit in the truck which limits the amount of horsepower they can build into engines that will have to be reliable.

Aprilia are rumoured to have the best part of 40 engines per rider available over the course of a WSBK season while, for example, Pata Honda can only afford to run ten so have to tune accordingly.

The days of Aprilia, and Kawasaki, having the luxury of being able to swap engines several times a weekend to ensure they have enough grunt to get a good grid slot and be able to use the full power of their package in both races will disappear in 2014 as every rider will have eight engines, sealed by technical control, for the entire year.

Kawasaki and Aprilia have reported horsepower figures over the 230bhp mark - which is some going for a supposed production-based series - while the Honda is at least ten less in order to make sure the motors will last a whole weekend, or even more.

Ducati, which run around 205-210bhp are more happy with the new deal as they can operate well within the new cap. The team is refreshing engines at around 800km instead of the 1200km limit imposed by the factory - the equivalent of one and a half engines per round.

For the first time ever, the Bologna factory is having to use wheelie control on its Superbike…